China is considering a new super-powerful engine for the next generation of space rockets.

China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) marketing department general manager Li Tongyu told the BBC that Chinese engineers were currently studying a rocket engine capable of generating thrust of 600t.

The country is currently developing its most powerful rocket to date, Long March-5, which would be powered by engines with the thrust of 120t.

“Rockets [with 600t thrust engines] would only be justified for things like sending humans to the moon, if such projects are approved,” ha said.

China had previously announced that it was studying a super-heavy launch vehicle with a total lift-off thrust of 3,000t.

The rocket’s architecture is expected to be similar to the one for the Long March-5 rocket, but at a considerably grander scale, according to the BBC.